Constant velocity universal joint



Feb. 8, 1944. A. Y. DODGE CONSTANT VELOCITY UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed Ma 11, 1940 k/ cz z'ez K D061 6 3 g 23a y E Patented'Feb. 8, 1944 CONSTANT VELOCITY UNIVERSAL JOINT Adiel Y.-Dodge, Rockford, Iih, neither to Borg- Warner Corporation, Chicago, 11L. a corporation oi Illinois Application May 11, 1940, Serial No. 384,517

9 Claims.

The object oi this invention is to provide an improved universal joint having at least substantiailythe characteristics oi constant velocity and embodying the three axis principle.

While there have been many terms oi constant velocity joint introduced. there are comparatively iew in use for one or more oi the following reasons: The designs proposed have been prohibitive in cost. excessively large in size to handle the required torque, and usually difiicult to assemble. In the present invention, two or more oi the above objections have been eliminated or reduced to a minimum, in a joint having at least substantially constant velocity characterthat a substantially constant velocity joint can be constructed having as few as three axes oi oscillation oi its parts in addition to the two axes oi rotation oi the driving and driven members. respectively. The present invention embodies this principle in universal joints oi maximum simplieityoiconstruction.

In the various embodiments oi my invention, I employ a spider member or its equivalent havin: two or tour trunnions which provide the major axes oi oscillation oi the yoke members relative to the spider, and in each case have provided a subordinate axis or axes by allowing the trunnions to oscillate on an axis or axes 90 removed iron: the axes or axis oi the trunnion.

oi the driving member.

In one oi its aspects the invention aims to re- 'tsin as iar as possible the advantages which underlie the success oi the conventional trunnion type joint. One oi the most important oi these advantages is the virtual elimination oi friction between the relatively shiitable coacting members through which torque is transmitted. To this end the invention contemplates, in this aspoet. a universal joint embodyin a iour trunnion spider, a yoke in which two of th trunnions are journalled on a fixed axis, and a yoke in which the other two bearings are confined ior oscillation on an axis at right angles to their common axis. Thus two oi the torque transmit- This arrangement secures the third-axis without adding parts or weight or increasing :the size .oi the ioint.

A more detailed object-oi the invention is to provide a yoke which is iormed with structurally independent bearing receiving sockets, thus iscilitating the assembly-and reducing the expense oi construction.

Other objects. the advantages and uses oi the invention will become more apparent aiter reading the iollowing specification and claims,'and aiter consideration oi the drawinfl iorming a part oi the specification. wherein:

FisJisanaxiaisectionalviewoiauniversal joint embodyi s the invention.

Fig.2isatransversesectionalviewtaken'as.

indicated by the line 2-2 oi Fig. i.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view oi a modified iorm oi the invention.

As an example oi one iorm in which the invention may be embodiedrl'. have shown in Figs. 1, 2and3 auniversaljointcomprisingapairoi yokes it and I! connected by'a spider ii. The spider i2 is cross-shaped, including a central hid) it and two pairs oi trunnions it and II projecting irom the hub The hubit is ofiset axially from the plane oi the trun-' nions and II in order that it may be operative, in connection with control means shown generally at It, to orient the axis oi the trunnions it at all times in a position bisecting the angle between the axes oi the yokes II and ii.

The trunnions i4 and-ll are received in hearing cups H. Needle bearing rollers ll are'interposed between the cups i1 and the trunnions It and i5. Conventional bearing retainer and packing means is may be employed to retain the rollers is in the cups and seal thespaces within the cups against the loss oi lubricant with which such iaces may bepacked.

The bearing cups l'l oi the trunnions'll are snugly mounted in cylindrical sockets 2| iormed integrally in'the ends oi the arms-2| oi the yoke ll. Thus the "axis oi the trunnions'ii is'fixed with respect to the yoke ii. This axis, about which the yoke ii may oscillate with reference to the yok [0, may be designated one of the major axes of the joint. The second major axis is the axis of the trunnions l4, around which the yoke in may oscillate with reference to the yoke I To produce the third axis of .the three axes mentioned above-"the spider I2 is permitted to oscillate with reference to the yoke ill on an axis at right angles to the axis of the trunnions [4, so as to permit the latter axis to be constantly maintained as the bisector of the two axes of rotation. This third axis coincides with the first axis, i. e., the axis of the trunnion i5, thereby eliminating parts, reducing weight, and simplifying the construction as a whole. Stated differently, the trunnions l5 perform the dual function of permitting the yoke Ii to oscillate relative to the yoke l0 and Permitting the spider i2 to oscillate relative to both yokes. I

For assembly purposes. at least one of the sockets is in the form of a bore extending entirely through its arm 2i and of suflicient diameter to allow the bearing cup [1 to be passed therethrough- The socket is recessed as at 200 to permit the assembly of the trunnion IS. The cup i1 may be secured in the socket by a snap ring'22 (Fig. 2).

Oscillation of spider I2 relative to the yoke I0 is provided for by the axially elongated slideways 23 in which the bearing cups of the trunnions M are received, and through which torque is transmitted from the yoke I0 to the bearing caps.

The slideway 23 may b formed of sheet metal and coin pressed to provide the necessary accuracy. This is an inexpensive method of forming th ways. The bearings I1 are adaptedto swing back and forth in the ways 23 as the spider i2 oscillates.

Ready assembly or disassembly of the Joint-is made posssible by forming the ways23 separate from the yoke I0 and detachably securing the ways by means of cap screws 24 to a radial disc portion 25 of the yok Ill. The disc portion 25 is provided with peripheral axially extending flanges 26 against which the channels 23 are accurately located.

For the purpose of providing ample strength, the sockets 23. are formed with webs 21 Joining the side walls of the sockets to the ear portions 28, through which the cap screws 24 extend. The webs 21 carry the torque forces between the ear portions 28 and the side walls of the sockets, reducing deflection to a practical minimum.

The control mechanism I6 comprises a sleeve 23 axially slidable in a slot 30 in the spider hub l3, and having a spherical socket 3| in which is pivoted the head 32 of a lever 33. In the head 32 is socketed the ball end 34 of a post 35 the' other end of which is securely mounted in the hub 38 of the yoke It. The other end of the lever 33 has a ball 31 pivoted in a socket 33 which is slldable in the bore 39 of the yoke ii.

The centers of the ball ends 34 and 31 and the head 32 are so related to the axis of the trun-' nions H as to maintain the latter constantly at the bisector of the axes of the yokes I0 and H, within close limits.

The lever 33 is maintained in snug engagement with the post 35 at all times by a coil spring 43 engaged between the socket 38 and the shank of the yoke II in a bore 4! constituting a continuation of the bore 39,

The slot 30 is rectangular in shape, and is elongated transversely of the axis of the trunnionsso as to permit the spider hub i3 to swing laterally with reference to the post 35 around the axis of the trunnions 14. Such lateral swinging is occasioned by the oscillation of the spider around the axis of the trunnions [4 with reference to the yoke in, which in turn is due to the fact that the axis of the trunnions I5 remains at all times at right angles to the axis of the yoke-ll.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 is the same in all respects as that shown in Fig. 1,

with the exception that instead of the structurally independent sockets 23, the yoke 10a is provided with integral sockets 23a in the form of open notches in the ends of the yoke arms 26a, and

the bearing caps l1a are provided with flanges 45 which coact with the radially inner surfaces of the sockets 23a so as to support the bearin caps against centrifugal force. Other parts of the joint are the same as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the same reference numerals are-used to desig nate them. 1

It will now be seen that my invention provides a universal .joint embodying the three axis principle, which is of maximum simplicity of construction, relatively inexpensive, easy to assemble and dismantle, and yet sturdy and longlived.

I claim:

1; Ina universal joint, a spider having four trunnions and a radially elongated central opening, a bearing encircling each trunnion, a pair of yokes in one of which two of said bearings are mounted on a fixed axis and in the other of which the other two bearings are slidably mounted for oscillating movement around said fixed axis, and means extending through said elongated opening and coacting with the spider on either side thereof for positioning the latter axis of said other two bearings at all times in the bisector of the yoke axes, said means being radially slidable in said opening.

2. A substantially constant velocity universal joint comprising a spider having four trunnions and a central aperture, a bearing encircling each trunnion, a pair of yoke members, one having a pair of diametrically opposed sockets in which alternate bearings are fixed and the other having a pair of diametricallyopposed axially elongated slideways receiving the other bearings and permitting said other hearings to oscillate around the axis of said sockets with reference to said other yoke member, and means extending through .said aperture and coacting with said spider and the respective yokes for positioning said spider to maintain the axis of said lastmentioned bearings at all times the bisector of the axes of the yoke members.

3. A universal Joint as defined in claim 2, wherein said elongated slideways are structurally independent and detachably secured to said other yoke member.

4. In 'a universal joint, a. spider having two pairs of trunnions, the trunnions of each pair being diametrically opposed, said spider having a central .hub region offset axially irom the plane of the trunnions, said hub region providing a slideway the longitudinal axis of which is parallel to the axis of one pair of trunnions, a pair of yokes in the arms of one of which said one pair of trunnions is journalled and in the arms of the other of which the other pair of trunnions is confinedfor oscillating movement around the axis of said first pair of trunnions, and spider control mechanism extending through said slideway and coacting therewith for maintaining said second pair of trunnions constantly in the bisector of the angle of the axes of said yokes.

5. In a universal joint, a spider having two pairs of trunnions, the trunnions of each pair being diametrically opposed, said spider including a central hub region axially oilfset from the elongated slideways in which the other two bearings are confined for oscillating movement around the axis of said one pair of trunnions, and spider control means including a post rigid with the yoke having said slideways and projecting into said hub, a slide member slidable in said hub slideway, and a lever one end oi which is pivoted with reference to the other yoke member and the other end of which is universally socketed in said slide member and has a pivotal connection with the end of said post adapted to maintain the axis of the oscillatable trunnions constantly the bisector'oi' the angle of the yoke members.

6. A substantially constant velocity universal joint comprising a driving member, a driven member, an intermediate torque transmitting element, a pair of diametrically opposed bearings connecting said intermediate. element in torque transmitting relation to one of said members on an axis that is fixed with reference to said one member, a pair of diametrically opposed bearings connecting said intermediate element in torque transmitting relation to the other of said members, said other member including means in which the latter mentioned bearings are slidably mounted for oscillating movement around said fixed axis; and means cooperating with said driving and driven members and said intermediate element for maintaining the axis of said latter mentioned bearings at all times the bisector oi the axes of the driving and driven members.

7. A substantially constant velocity universal Joint comprising driving and driven members, an intermediate torque transmitting element having a central aperture, a pair of bearings connecting said intermediate element in torque transmitting relation to one of said members on an axis that is fixed relative to said one member, a pair of bearings connecting said intermediate element in torque transmitting relation to the other of said members, said other member including. means in which the latter mentioned bearings are slidably mounted for oscillating movement around said fixed axis, and means extending through said aperture with clearance permitting radial shifting movement thereof in said aperture, said last means coacting with said intermediate element and said driving and driven members for maintaining the axis of said latter mentioned bearings at all times the bisector oi the axes of the yoke members.

8. A substantial constant velocity universal joint comprising a spider having four trunnions and a central aperture, a bearing encircling each trunnion, driving and driven members, in one of which alternate bearings are fixed, and in the other of which the other two bearings are slidably mounted for oscillating movement around the axis of said fixed bearings, and means extending through said aperture with clearance permitting radial movement thereof relative to said spider, said means coacting with the spider and with said driving and driven members for positioning said spider to maintain the axis of said oscillatable bearings at all times the bisector of the axes of the yoke members.

9. A substantially constant velocity universal joint comprising driving and driven members, an intermediate element having a radially elongated central opening, a pair of bearings connecting said intermediate element to one of said members on an axis that is fixed with relation to said one member, a second pair of bearings connecting said intermediate element in torquetransmitting relation to the other of said members, said other member having means in which said second pair of bearings are slidably mounted for oscillating movement around said fixed axis, and means extending through said elongated opening and coacting with said intermediate element for maintaining the axis 01' said second pair of bearings at all times the bisector oithe axes of said driving and driven members, said means being radially slidable in said openings.

ADIEL Y. DODGE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,51410814. February 8, 191 1;.

ADIEL Y. DODGE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent-rewiring correction as follows: Page 2, sec-' 0nd column, line '40, claim 1, after "the" strike out --latter-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office- Signed and sealed this 25th day of April, A. D. 19h

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

